Letters to the Editor: Week of Feb. 26 to March 4, 2017

As a resident of Alton and one of Mike Bost’s constituents, his refusal to participate in town halls disgusts me. I was at a peaceful protest outside his office Feb. 21, requesting him to participate in a discussion of health care.

No one was yelling or threatening — many of the marchers were senior citizens who only wanted to keep Medicare after having paid into it for 45 years. A woman spoke of her husband, terminally ill, who would be denied health care under the proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

We deserve health care, and if our representatives in Congress will not meet with us to discuss this urgent, literally life-and-death concern, they should be replaced by someone unafraid of the democratic process.

Kerry Scherer

Alton

I have worked for the Chouteau Township Highway Department since Aug. 10, 1987, going on 30 years. In that time, I have served eight highway commissioners. I have dealt with commissioners of all stripes and personalities.

Commissioners often have their own ideas and agendas when they take office. Everyone thinks they can solve the problems that others couldn’t. Eventually, all realize that living in a flood plain in an unincorporated area where no weight limit laws on rural roads can be enforced causes more than a few problems ...

Our current election that will occur on April 4 offers a choice of three candidates.

One, the incumbent Mr. Ron Hogue, who has been endorsed by the workers and our union Teamsters Local 525, was elected in 2013 and has 10-plus years experience in street repair and knowledge and experience running the type of equipment we use daily. He is level-headed, fiscally conservative, and works well with the crew to keep things running smoothly and efficiently for the good of our residents.

One is a firefighter who worked as a volunteer fireman under our current township supervisor.

The third owns a business that teaches teens to drive.

The choice, in my opinion, is clear.

Please vote to re-elect Ron Hogue for Chouteau highway commissioner on April 4.

Danny Thweatt

Chouteau Highway Department foreman and shop steward

Teamsters Local 525

Hi, my is Ethan Scott and I am a Boy Scout in Troop 101. I am doing my communications merit badge. I’m writing in response to the article about the teachers in Michigan. I believe that teachers do have moral responsibilities, even in their personal lives. Teachers should be role models for their students. Words can be harmful and leave a lasting impression. It’s important for teachers to be helpful to their students and help shape their future.

Thank you for bringing awareness to this topic.

Ethan Scott

To the voters of the Fifth Ward in Granite City:

I am pleased to write this letter as a show of support for Ron Simpson as a candidate for the Fifth Ward alderman position.

I have had the pleasure of working with Ron on several different instances in the past few years. SOAR (Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees) undertakes many different projects and Ron has been there to support us each time. He has been a generous sponsor to help us fund scholarships for graduating area high school students, a hard-working volunteer as we distributed food to laid-off area workers during these difficult economic times and a positive supporter on the City Council when we ask for help in accomplishing things to benefit the community. I feel fortunate to have worked with Ron in the past and look forward to working with him in the future.

Jeff Rains

President, SOAR Chapter 7-34-2

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is Report to the People No. 10 by Madison County Board District 3 representative Philip W. Chapman.

In an effort to assist with government transparency and to keep people informed I provide this 10th Report to the People. (Since you pay me I figure you have a right to know what I’m doing.)

Mandated state training

I completed the Open Meeting Acts training required by the Illinois attorney general’s guidelines two weeks ago. A certificate is on file with Madison County.

Worden issues

Transportation: As per my promise to Mayor Preston Hall, on Feb. 23, I met with Mr. Schuette of the Transportation Department and discussed road improvement issues. The Madison County Transportation Department will provide a general sketch of a “curb and gutter” of an improvement from Wildwood Subdivision to the pumping station just south of Worden in about two weeks. (This improvement has yet to be approved and is in its preliminary stages.) The city of Worden would fund a sidewalk project just north of the “pumping station” to assist with pedestrian traffic into town.

Highland issues

1. FEMA issues: I spoke with Ms. Poshard of Madison County Community Development and she contacted Ms. Lisa Peck of Highland. They will meet with Ms. Deb Detmers of Congressman John Shimkus’ office to push for providing local government with updated Federal Emergency Management Agency maps. Many thanks to Congressman John Shimkus for his effort and providing local government with extra “firepower.”

2. Highland Senior Citizen/Community Center: I spoke with Ms. Poshard and alerted her to Elmer Emig and the Weinheimer Senior Citizen’s Group effort to bring a new senior citizens center to Highland. Ms. Poshard and staff are researching all available resources.

Hamel issues

1. I met with Mayor Larry Bloemker on Feb. 24 to discuss floodwater drainage on Illinois Department of Transportation right of way. We will meet with Joseph D. Monroe of IDOT in the next two weeks (to be announced). Many thanks to state Rep. Charlie Meier of the 108 District for his efforts on Hamel’s behalf.

2. I spoke with the chief of police Feb. 24 and asked if there was any way I might assist the department or could represent the area with the Southwestern Illinois law Enforcement Commission. He said the commission supported them magnificently and that all was going well but would contact me if necessary. Let’s support our local police!

Letter to Team Trump-Pence

As a District 3 board member and as a Trump delegate to the Republican National Convention, I personally delivered a letter to the Trump-Pence Team when invited to the event at Fabick CAT in Fenton, Mo. I asked they consider two ways to bring jobs to our ailing Madison County economy. Amid their many responsibilities, I asked for their help to put 1,500 workers back to work at the U.S. Steel Granite City plant. A number of people I spoke with living in District 3 are laid off from this plant and struggle to make ends meet. I think President Trump’s executive order to use U.S.-manufactured steel in U.S. oil pipelines is an indication of a desire to help the steel industry. People need and want work. I hope “market forces” don’t end these important jobs.